Review Summary: Despite losing half their members to a car accident, For Squirrels released a slice of 1990s alternative rock that stands up to the very best in the genre.
The music scene is no stranger to artists dying young.
They don't call it the "27 Club" for nothing. Kurt Cobain, its most notable member, famously ended his life in April 1994 after years of battling severe depression related to
Nirvana's place in popular culture. His death sparked a legion of copycat groups hoping to cash in on the new wave of grunge music. Some were able to break through and flourish; others floundered and never made it out of their hometowns. For Gainesville, Florida's quartet
For Squirrels, the world will never know what could have been. One month before releasing
Example, the band was in a tragic car accident that took the lives of bassist Bill White, lead singer Jack Vigliatura and manager Tim Bender (23, 21 and 23 respectively). The fourth track on
Example, "Mighty K.C." was an ironic tribute to a star that had burned out rather than fading away, and it posthumously became the band's highest-charting hit. Just as
For Squirrels was poised to become the next
R.E.M, they were gone. And yet,
Example lives on as a snapshot of the 1990s alternative rock scene - it's loud, distorted and full of memorable hooks that have aged remarkably well. It's the band's lasting legacy.
The songs are concisely written, full of soul and invoke a sense of nostalgia upon listening. Comparisons to
R.E.M and
The Smashing Pumpkins are certainly accurate, and the band clearly wears their influences on their sleeves - but the end result feels more like an expansion of that sound rather than a blatant tribute. Vigliatura had excellent vocal range and could go from a melodic croon to a harsh, raspy register - often times, within the same track. His varied delivery took many of the songs from being solid compositions to stacking up against some of the best alternative rock songs of the decade (particularly his performance on "Disenchanted"). Though the band was collectively quite young at the time, the songwriting is top-notch and showcased their immense potential. Instrumentally,
Example is chock-full of memorable riffs and beautiful choruses, though they never stray far from a predictable formula.
Sadly, we will never know the true extent of how far
For Squirrels could have truly gone. They have maintained a small group of core fans that will always appreciate what the band gave the world after absorbing a crushing loss. But despite their short lifespan, they were able to leave an imprint on the alternative rock scene that will survive the members that are no longer with us.
Example is a phenomenal collection of tracks from a band poised to break into the spotlight, but were ultimately destined for relative obscurity.
